1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Week 1 (Sunday September 2, 1984): vs. Kansas City Chiefs

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT

Game weather: 84°F (Partly Cloudy)

Game attendance: 56,709

Referee: Jerry Seeman

TV announcers: (NBC) Bill Wilkerson (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Kansas City – Blackledge 1 run (Lowery kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30

Kansas City – FG Lowery 37

Kansas CIty – Brown 3 run (Lowery kick)

Pittsburgh – Lipps 80 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

Kansas City – Brown 6 run (Lowery kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 29 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47

Kansas City – Paige 22 pass from Blackledge (Lowery kick)

Kansas City – FG Lowery 47

Kansas City – FG Lowery 37

Pittsburgh – Lipps 21 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Mark Malone and David Woodley combined for 419 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while the Chiefs won despite putting up just 264 yards of total offense.

Week 2 (Thursday September 6, 1984): at New York Jets

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game time: 9:00 pm EDT

Game weather:

Game attendance: 70,564

Referee: Bob McElwee

TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Lipps 6 pass form Woodley (Anderson kick)

New York Jets – Walker 14 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43

New York Jets – Humphrey 97 kickoff return (Leahy kick)

Pittsburgh – Thompson 3 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

New York Jets – FG Leahy 52

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27

After coughing up four turnovers to the Chiefs, the Steelers picked off Pat Ryan three times and forced a fumble; they also bullied the Jets into 11 penalties for 115 yards.

Week 3 (Sunday September 16, 1984): vs. Los Angeles Rams

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT

Game weather: 63°F (Mostly Cloudy)

Game attendance: 58,104

Referee: Ben Dreith

TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Hill (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Los Angeles Rams – Crutchfield 4 pass from Ferragamo (Lansford kick)

Pittsburgh – Cunningham 1 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Washington 12 interception return (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41

Los Angeles Rams – Drew Hill 57 pass from Kemp (Lansford kick)

Pittsburgh – Lipps 11 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

The Steelers limited Eric Dickerson to 49 rushing yards and forced two Rams fumbles.

Week 4 (Sunday September 23, 1984): at Cleveland Browns

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT

Game weather:

Game attendance: 77,312

Referee: Dick Jorgensen

TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Washington 69 interception return (Anderson kick)

Cleveland – FG Bahr 18

Cleveland – Green 44 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46

Cleveland – Harris 3 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)

Cleveland – FG Bahr 48

Week 5 (Monday October 1, 1984): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 9:00 pm EDT

Game weather: 50°F (Light Rain)

Game attendance: 57,098

Referee: Tom Dooley

TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Erenberg 31 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Woodruff 42 interception return (Anderson kick)

Cincinnati – Jennings 38 pass from Schonert (Breech kick)

Cincinnati – FG Breech 32

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31

Pittsburgh – Thompson 23 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

Cincinnati – Schonert 1 run (Breech kick)

Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Shell 52 interception return (Anderson kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 7, 1984): vs. Miami Dolphins

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT

Game weather: 66°F (Fog & Drizzle)

Game attendance: 59,103

Referee: Jerry Markbreit

TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Miami – Hardy 3 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Miami – Rose 34 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Miami – Baumhower 21 fumble return (von Schamann kick)

Miami – FG von Schamann 37

Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)

Miami – Bennett 1 run (von Schamann kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 14, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Game time: 4:00 pm EDT

Game weather:

Game attendance: 59,110

Referee: Pat Haggerty

TV announcers: (NBC) Jay Randolph (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

This game was not on a lot NBC stations. Game 5 of the World Series was on at the same time. This would be the last Sunday afternoon World Series game. This was the one game the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers lost during the 1984 season.

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Erenberg 2 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48

San Francisco – Montana 7 run (Wersching kick)

San Francisco – FG Wersching 30

San Francisco – Tyler 7 run (Wersching kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21

Week 8 (Sunday October 21, 1984): at Indianapolis Colts

at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT

Game weather: Dome

Game attendance: 60,026

Referee: Bob McElwee

TV announcers: (NBC) Gary Gerould (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 53

Pittsburgh – Lipps 62 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25

Indianapolis – FG Allegre 41

Indianapolis – Moore 8 run (Allegre kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43

Indianapolis – Butler 54 pass from Pagel (Allegre kick)

This game was particularly frustrating to Steeler fans. One week previous, the Steelers beat the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco being the only team to beat the 49ers that year going 15-1 on the way to winning the Super Bowl. Then coming back East to play one of the worst teams of the season, the Indianapolis Colts, who had only 2 wins at that point and 4 total on the year, they lost on a last minute improbable play after leading throughout the game. The Colts third string quarterback, Mike Pagel, came off the bench in the third quarter and was leading a final minute drive from their 20. On the Colts 40 with 34 seconds left, Pagel avoided a near sack, scrambled right and threw down the middle of the field to WR Bernard Henry. The ball however went directly to the hands of Steeler CB Sam Washington who bobbled the ball. Between Washington and a few other Steeler defenders, WR Ray Butler burst through the gap, snatched the ball in the air and ran untouched 54 yards for the touchdown. The extra point sealed the game. "And that's why they play the game."

Week 9 (Sunday October 28, 1984): vs. Atlanta Falcons

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather: 72°F (Light Rain)

Game attendance: 55,971

Referee: Gordon McCarter

TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Hill (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Woodruff 65 fumble return (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 20 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Atlanta – FG Luckhurst 40

Pittsburgh – Pollard 5 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 31 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Erenberg 7 pass form Malone (Anderson kick)

Atlanta – Bailey 9 pass form Moroski (Luckhurst kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 4, 1984): vs. Houston Oilers

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather: 53°F (Light Rain)

Game attendance: 48,892

Referee: Jerry Seeman

TV announcers: (NBC) Gary Gerould (play by play), Harvey Martin (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 43 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Malone 13 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 17 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 39 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Hinkle 21 fumble return (Anderson kick)

Houston – J. WIlliams 5 pass from Luck (Cooper kick)

The Steelers limited Warren Moon and Oliver Luck to 224 yards; the Oilers fumbled four times.

Week 11 (Sunday November 11, 1984): at Cincinnati Bengals

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather:

Game attendance: 52,497

Referee: Ben Dreith

TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Cincinnati – FG Breech 21

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47

Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21

Cincinnati – Brooks 24 run (run failed)

Cincinnati – FG Breech 42

Cincinnati – FG Breech 28

Pittsburgh – Lipps 36 run (Anderson kick)

Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 3 run (Breech kick)

Week 12 (Monday November 19, 1984): at New Orleans Saints

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game time: 9:00 pm EST

Game weather: Dome

Game attendance: 66,005

Referee: Fred Silva

TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

New Orleans – FG Andersen 27

Pittsburgh – Lipps 76 punt return (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 14 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

New Orleans – FG Andersen 32

New Orleans – Hardy 28 pass from Todd (Andersen kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21

New Orleans – Miller 21 pass from Todd (Andersen kick)

New Orleans – Winston 47 interception return (Andersen kick)

Pittsburgh – Lipps 25 pass from Campbell (Anderson kick)

The Saints won their first Monday Night game in seven tries, and also avenged a 1974 Monday Night loss to the Steelers at Tulane Stadium. It was Pittsburgh's first loss to New Orleans since 1969 in what was the Steelers' final game in the NFL before moving to the AFC as part of the AFL-NFL merger.

Former Steelers linebacker Dennis Winston played for the Saints in this game. It was also a homecoming for Lipps, who played at nearby East St. John High School.

Week 13 (Sunday November 25, 1984): vs. San Diego Chargers

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather: 54°F (Sunny)

Game attendance: 55,586

Referee: Jim Tunney

TV announcers: (NBC) Len Berman (play by play), Gene Washington (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 55

Pittsburgh – Lipps 15 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Pollard 2 run (Anderson kick)

San Diego – FG Benirschke 29

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 30 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

San Diego – James 59 punt return (Benirschke kick)

San Diego – Chandler 63 pass from Luther (Benirschke kick)

Pittsburgh – Pollard 2 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 5 pass from Malone (Anderon kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 45 pass from Malone (Anderon kick)

Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)

San Diego – Joiner 25 pass from Luther (Benirschke kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 2, 1984): at Houston Oilers

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather: Dome

Game attendance: 39,786

Referee: Gene Barth

TV announcers: (NBC) Phil Stone (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32

Houston – FG Cooper 19

Houston – FG Cooper 38

Houston – Dressel 5 pass from Moon (Cooper kick)

Pittsburgh – Thompson 5 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24

Houston – Edwards 5 run (Cooper kick)

Pittsburgh – Lipps 7 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Houston – FG Cooper 30

The Steelers tied the game in the fourth yet fell in overtime, all despite intercepting Warren Moon three times.

Week 15 (Sunday December 9, 1984): vs. Cleveland Browns

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST

Game weather: 46°F (Cloudy)

Game attendance: 55,825

Referee: Fred Wyant

TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Cleveland – FG Bahr 29

PIttsburgh – Lipps 61 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40

Cleveland – FG Bahr 49

Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)

Cleveland – Feacher 16 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22

Cleveland – McDonald 3 run (Bahr kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34

Week 16 (Sunday December 16, 1984): at Los Angeles Raiders

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game time: 4:00 pm EST

Game weather:

Game attendance: 83,056

Referee: Red Cashion

TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26

Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37

Los Angeles Raiders – Williams 2 pass from Plunkett (Bahr kick)

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday December 30, 1984): at Denver Broncos

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game time: 4:00 pm EST

Game weather:

Game attendance: 74,981

Referee: Fred Wyant

TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Denver – Wright 9 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28

Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick)

Denver – FG Karlis 21

Denver – Watson 20 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Pittsburgh – Lipps 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Pittsburgh – Pollard 2 run (Anderson kick)

The Steelers sacked John Elway four times and picked him off twice.

AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 6, 1985): at Miami Dolphins

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Game time: 12:30 pm EST

Game weather:

Game attendance: 76,029

Referee: Jerry Markbreit

TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Miami – Clayton 40 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Pittsburgh – Erenberg 7 run (Anderson kick)

Miami – FG von Schamann 26

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 65 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Miami – Duper 41 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Miami – Nathan 2 run (von Schamann kick)

Miami – Duper 36 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Pittsburgh – Stallworth 19 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Miami – Bennett 1 run (von Schamann kick)

Miami – Moore 6 pass from Marino (von Schamann kick)

Pittsburgh – Capers 29 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Dan Marino threw four touchdowns and over 400 yards, outdueling Mark Malone's 312 yards and three scores; Miami picked off Malone three times.

Honors and awards

UPI AFC Rookie of the Year – Louis Lipps wide receiver

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year – Louis Lipps

NFL Comeback Player of the Year – John Stallworth